Leslie J. KaslofWhether you live with animals as a companion or work among them, the human-animal bond can be a vital part of life. Animals have feelings and can experience stress. They react to changes in their environment, and your mood can have an affect on them. Animals can experience over-sensitivity, fear, despondency, loneliness and depression, among other emotions. When tender loving care isn’t enough, and medical problems have been ruled out as the cause of these emotional states, Flower Remedies can assist an animal suffering from the ill-effects of stress.
Flower Remedies can help restore your animal friends to a state of calm and emotional balance in difficult times. Moving, periods of transition and change, even traveling anxieties have been eased with the use of the Flower Remedies.
Letters and case studies report wonderful results when using Flower Remedies with animals including: dogs, cats, horses, birds, tropical fish, and snakes, among other animals.
Flower Remedies provide animals with a gentle, safe system of emotional stress relief. Adding these remedies to your total animal care program will help to assure your animal’s health and well-being!
Canines
The following is a listing of Flower Remedies and examples of some common indications for their use with dogs.
Chicory
For the dog that follows you around, is constantly underfoot, and becomes extremely upset when left alone. For the affectionate, clinging, or territorial dog who is always opting for your attention and more often than not winds up in your lap.
Mimulus
For the dog with fear of known things. This includes but is not limited to: loud noises, thunderstorms, vacuum cleaners, trips to the vet, and visits by small children. When these fears turn to terror, Rock Rose or the stress-relieving formula can be used.
Aspen
For the nervous, fearful dog, especially in new circumstances. This dog may often cower with its tail between its legs. Good used in combination with the flower remedy Mimulus.
Honeysuckle
For the dog whose primary person has been removed, and acts withdrawn, subdued, or unenthusiastic towards people. Can be used in conjunction with Star of Bethlehem, especially if primary person has died. Can also be used for homesickness while at a kennel or if left home alone for a prolonged period of time.
Star of Bethlehem
For the physically or emotionally traumatized dog, whether from past or current trauma. Nearly always indicated for dogs that have been in a pound, abused, or found on the street.
Water Violet
Useful for the dog that is aloof, self-reliant, and a loner. For dogs that were socialized comparatively late in life, and who seem very stand-offish.
Scleranthus
Can be useful in car sickness, used along with the stress-relieving formula.
Holly
For the angry dog who threatens to attack, or attacks without provocation. In addition, Holly can be useful combined with Star of Bethlehem where there is aggressive behavior due to trauma or abuse in the past and/or present. The Flower Remedy Star of Bethlehem should always be given in conjunction with Holly. Remember any personality changes should be checked by a veterinarian.
Chestnut Bud
This remedy is helpful in training situations. For the dog that has difficulty learning from prior experience, who tends to repeat the same mistakes over and over. It can be useful when teaching a puppy to make a distinction between right and wrong behavior, such as the difference between papers for paper training and today’s paper on the sofa, or a rawhide bone and your shoes. Can be helpful used as an adjunct along with effective behavior modification training methods.
Vervain
For highly strung dogs with a great deal of nervous energy. For those who are hard to keep from jumping or barking. While enthusiasm goes with the species, this remedy can help in modifying overly enthusiastic behavior.
Olive
For the dog who is totally exhausted, ill and/or traumatized. This remedy may help to bring comfort to the sick dog; use in conjunction with Star of Bethlehem.
Felines
The following is a listing of Flower Remedies and an example of some common indications for their use with cats.
Chicory
For the extremely affectionate territorial, clinging, cat that tends to be possessive and jealous, always staying near you wanting to be held, petted and fussed after.
Beech
For the cat that has no tolerance for another animal or certain people.
Mimulus
The Flower Remedy for known fears, including but not limited to: thunderstorms, vacuum cleaners, trips to the vet, and visits by small children. When fear turns to terror use in combination with the flower remedy Rock Rose, or use the stress-relieving formula. Good used in combination with the Flower Remedy Aspen.
Aspen
For the fraidy cat that is always slinking from safe place to safe place, never being quite at ease. Startles easily at any sound, even non-threatening sounds it has heard before. In instances where this problem is due to past or present abuse or trauma, Aspen can be combined with Star of Bethlehem.
Water Violet
This flower remedy can be given to most cats. It can help in modifying a cats instinct for aloofness and solitude, thus opening his/her capacity for interaction with people or other animals.
Walnut
Helpful in easing stress and assisting emotional adjustment during periods of transition and change. This includes but is not limited to: the arrival of new human or animal babies, new pets in the house, moving, weaning, heat cycles, or the arrival of house guests.
Larch
This Flower Remedy is for the low cat in the pecking order, perhaps the runt. For the cat with little or no self-confidence. Self-esteem is an important part of feline well-being and is usually radiated by an emotionally balanced cat.
Star of Bethlehem
Can help ease stress associated with, past and present trauma, both physical and psychological. When recuperating from surgery, queening, car trips, injury, weaning, boarding and other traumas that affect your cat’s dignity, freedom, health or security. For cats adopted from shelters, or found in the street.
Hornbeam
For fatigue. Can be helpful in assisting runts, along with the Flower Remedy Olive to help comfort and build strength in sickly animals.
Honeysuckle
For the cat who has lost a person or other animal they’ve been close to. The Flower Remedy Star of Bethlehem can also be used in combination with this remedy as an adjunct.
Vine
For the territorial Boss Cat, who tends to dominate and bully the other animals.
Stress-Relieving Formula: This combination flower remedy formula can be used to ease stress, providing a natural calming effect following accidents, illness or any injury your cat may experience. Always seek the services of a veterinarian in all serious cases ! It can also be used to calm, and ease stress, in cases of pregnancy and queening, at cat shows, on car trips, while boarding, during long absence, before or after surgery, or whenever a cat seems to be experiencing difficulty and stress.
A SPECIAL NOTE
Some behavior problems are a sign of physical illness. It is essential that any animal, particularly one that shows a sudden change in behavior, be given a complete examination by a veterinarian. Only after pathology has been ruled out should one proceed on the behavioral path.
The use of flower preparations are not intended to remove, eliminate, or negate veterinary care , but, rather, to be included in a total holistic approach to health and well-being. The Flower Remedies are not intended for treatment of illness. Conditions requiring medical attention should be referred to a veterinarian or other professional animal care provider.
Jim Strohecker
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD
Russell E. DiCarlo